Page 178 of The Sinner: James

My heart shatters.

I falter momentarily as frantic thoughts about possible outcomes clash in my head.

What are they doing here?

Clenching my teeth, I bit back a curse while zooming in on their faces.

They move their eyes over me, and something happens to their expressions, dark shadows pulling over their faces.

Surprise colors Lex’s gaze as beams of pure, seething fury shoot from James’ eyes.

Lex pivots to me, his lips softly parting as he takes me in, petrified.

Daggers fly from James’ eyes.

My knees shake, my fingers trembling as I bite my lip until I feel the taste of blood.

Get a fucking grip, Rain.

And yet, I can’t stop my emotions from spinning in my chest.

I’m not that girl anymore.

I’m no longer that girl.

A voice hopelessly screams in my head.

I keep repeating those words, struggling to pull myself together.

I can do this.

I will do this.

I can face him.

He has no power over me.

And yet, he has.

I inhale a long breath and square my shoulders before taking the last few steps, reluctantly erasing the space between us.

Their eyes roam over me again, with not a sliver of emotion on their faces.

As if a door has closed.

As if something just died in their hearts.

My pulse throbs in my ears as I stop in front of them.

“Rain...” Lex murmurs.

A fist of pain crashes into my chest.

This is harder than I thought.

“Lex,” I say, trying to sound calm.

I swing my gaze to James.

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